Pipe coupling



Patented Aug. l, 1939 l A uNiTEc STATES PATENT OFFICE Application; Macul-15.4, sS;;)No. 193,997

This invention lrelates generally to couplings straight pipe, the parts being shown in this gure for pipes or vconduits for conveying gases and asseparated from each other; liquids from one location to another; and more Figure 8`is a central section illustrating the particularly to pipes and couplings adapted to separated parts of Figure 'l as coupled to each convey liquids, such as beer and other beverages, other; 5 under low pressure, to be dispensed for public Figure 9 is a transverse section of a reinforcing consumption. member forming part of the coupling joint illus- In dispensing beer and similar beverages, prestrated in Figures 'l and 8; and sure beyond a certain limit is detrimental to the Figure 10 is a section through a series of curved- 10 quality and to the handling `and drawing of the pipes having flanged-joints and secured together l0 beer. Metal commonly used for the, piping and by a flexible coupling of the type illustrated in couplings in the dispensing of beer frequently sets Figures 4, 5 and 6. up chemical action having harmful eifects on the It is intended in all the forms of this invention flavor and quality of the beer. that the pipes wherever connected together shall It is the main object of the present invention form a continuous smooth passagewayvfor the l5 to provide a system of conduits and couplings uids flowing through them. 'Ihis construction peculiarly adapted for use in dispensing liquid adapts the conduit system to be constructed of under 10W pressures cmmonly used for the disglass or porcelain pipes which may b'e butted end Densing of beer and similar beverages, whereby to end and secured together by flexible couplings the piping may be made of glass or porcelain, or applied to the pipes without the aid of tools and mlsirnilar material, and which can be very'easily without necessitating screw-threading of the concleaned, and the inner walls of which can be tacting ends of the connected pipes. glazed or formed smooth enough to avoid pro- In Figure 1 of the drawings two pipes II and I2 jections which normally cause the formation of are illustrated as held in alignment with their slime and other objectionable accumulations in \ends in contact with each other by means of a u the pipes. coupling designated generally by the reference Another object of the invention is to provide numeral I3. This coupling I3, preferably formed low pressure conduit systems with flexible Ycouof rubber or some composition having similar plings which can be applied or removed from the elastic properties, comprises a central body porvarious joints of the pipes and conduits without tion I4 having-a diameter slightly less than that 30 the aid ofA tools. of the piping on which the coupling is to be ar- Other objects of the invention will become apranged. The central body portion, during the parent as the detailed description thereof promolding of the coupling, has embedded therein ceeds: a woven spring wire ring I5 to strengthen the In the drawings: coupling and to prevent leakage at the joint be- 35 Figure 1 is a central,.longitudinal section of a tween the two pipes II and I2.

pipe coupling constructed in accordance with this Integral with the body portion I l andextending invention and illustrated as applied to the meetin opposite directions therefrom are the bulb-like ing ends of two straight sections of pipe; extensions I6 and II which terminate respectively 4,0 Figure 2 is an elevation of an annular stiiening in inturned annular flanges Il and Il, the diameo spring used as a reinforcement for the aforesaid ters of which are small enough to insure an aircoupling; tigh fit between the flanges and'said pipes I I and Figure 3 is an transverse section taken on the I2 when-the coupling is assembled thereon. line 3-3 of Figure 1; Between their ends, the extensions IB and II Figure 4 is a section taken through a T-flttlng are bulged out to form vacuum ychambers 20 and 45 and different forms of flexible couplings adapted 2I, respectively. Each of these chambers has its to secure contacting ends of piping and elbows inner surface provided with a series of annular together; beads 22, some of which, at each end of the cham- Figure 5 is a diametral section through one of ber contact with the outer surfaces of the pipes the couplings illustrated in Figure 4 and separated II and I2 to increase the frictional contact of the 50 from a joint; coupling with the pipes. The other beads assist Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of in the gradual return of the extensions to their Figure 5; normal shape and present collapse of these cham- Figure 'I is a central section through a union bers which would be caused by the vacuum re- 53 adaptedto secure an elbow-iittingtotheendof a sulting from expulsion of air through the ends u of the couplings during their assembly on. the

pipes. It will be obvious that when the operator forces one end of a pipe into either extension, and

' holds the bulged part of each extension collapsed while the pipe is, being forced onto the coupling, the air will be expelled through the ends of the coupling. When pressure on the bulged .parts is released, the return of the bulged parts to their normal shape creates a vacuum in the chambers 28 and 2| and thereby enhances the holding and leak preventing properties of the coupling.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figpreferably formedof rubber or material having similar properties, and is molded substatnially as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. In its normal position before being applied, the coupling 28 comprises a ring having parallel outer surfaces 28 and 38 and parallel inner surfaces 3 i and 32 separated to form a groove 33. In effect, this coupling 28 comprises a pair of annular disks joined together at their outer peripheries by a body of rubber. A star-shaped insert 34 of woven spring wire is embedded in the disk like parts in this coupling 28 to increase the strength of the coupling and hold the said coupling securely in operative position as shown -in Figure 4 of the drawings, snapped over the flanged ends of the T-head 24 land, pipe 28 to complete the joint-between these two parts.

The elbow coupling designated generally by the' reference numeral in Figure 4of the drawings includes a modification of one-half of the straight coupling, shown in Figure 1 combined with half of the disk ,coupling illustrated in Figure 5. This elbow coupling comprises a cylindrical portion 38 slightly smaller in diameter than the end voi' the elbow to which it is to be applied. The other end of the elbow coupling 35 is provided with an inturned annular flange 31 serving the same purpose on the elbow pipe 38 as the anges I8 and I8 do on the pipes Il and l2. The part of the coupling l35 between the portion 38 and flange 31 is given an outwardly bulged shape in addition to the elbow curvature to form a vacuum chamber 38, the inner surface of which is 'provided with a series of bead like ribs or ridges 48 'to facilitate the return of the chamber tonormal position after having been applied to an' compressed by the hand of the operator. When l the insertion is completed and the -hand' of the operator removed from the elbow coupling, the return of the chamber 38 to its normal position will vcreate a ,vacuum and draw the cylindrical portion 364 and inturned 'flange 31, tightly onto the opposite ends of the elbow. The disk-like flange 4I extending inwardly from the cylindrical portion 36, in its normal position should be substantially at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical portion 35. When this iiange 4I is snapped over the ange 42 onthe end of the leg 43 of the T-iltting 23, it will assume the inclined position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings to hold the elbow-and T-iltting properly secured to each .aromas other. Figures '7, 8 and 9 illustrate cooperating coupling members forming a-union designed to pipe. 'I'he 'form ofthe invention illustrated in Figure 4 is adapted for use where the leg 43 of the T-iltting is too short to receive a separate coupling. However, when this leg 43 is long enough, a coupling memberv 45 may` be arranged thereon to cooperate with an elbow couplingl member 45, in securing the pipe 44 to an elbow section of pipe 41.

The bulged parts of the members 45 and 48 are substantially the same in construction and perform the same function as the bulged part of the straight coupling shown in Figure l. and the elbow part shown in Figure 4, and therefore, need ,no further description. The Joint end of the member 45 comprises a flange 48` constructed similarly` to one of the disk-like parts of the coupling shown in Figure 5. This flange 48, however, is inclined to forma frusto-conical member adapted' to snap over a frusto-conical metal washer 48 having an inclined periphery 58 terminating in a series of prongs 5l embedded in the cylindrical end 52l at the upper end of the elbow coupling 45.

An annular collar 53, L-shaped in radial cross section, is interposed between the inner surface of the inclinedange 48 and the outer surface 58 of the conical-washer 48. As shown in Figure 8 'connect an elbow to a comparatively long, straight of the drawings, the body portion oil the disk 48,

when snapped over the zwasher 48, causes the inner corner of the collar 53 to impinge against the inclined face 58 of the washer 48 to move the end of the pipe. 44 into contact with the upper end of the'elbow pipe section 41.

As shown in Figure 10 of thedrawings, the couplings 28 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ofthe drawings may be applied to any number oi curved pipes such as the pipes 54, 55 anid 58; providing these pipes, at their contacting end, have cooperating outwardly directed iianges 5 1 and 58 i formed thereon.

It will be apparent from the disclosure herein that the system of piping can be assembled without lthe use of tools, and can be very readily taken apart whenever it becomes necessary or desirable to clean thevarious pipes, straight or curved, which constitute a conduit for dispensing beverages or other liquids under low pressure. The inner surfaceof the system of piping and fittings provide a smooth, continous, full-size bore givingiweeping-angles of flow of the liquid extending from a bulk container to a dispensing faucet.

While I have shown the various forms of ilexible coupling in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to this specific-construction shown in the drawings. nor in any other way except as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

`What I claim is:

l. A union pipe-coupling comprising a pair of tubular shellsof rubber or the like, each shell having an .inturned annular iiange at one end thereof and a cylindrical body portion at its other end to grip a pipe inserted therein, one of said shells having a ange extending at an acute angle inwardly to-the axis of said cylindrical body portion, the other of said shells having a flange extending. outwardly from said cylindrical body portion,- sai'd axially inclined ange being adapted to snap over the last named flange to connect shells together.` i

2. A union pipe-coupling comprising a pair of tubular shells of rubber or the like, each shell having an inturned annular flange at one end thereof and a cylindrical body portion at its other end to grip a pipe inserted therein, one of said shells having a flange extending at an acute angle inwardly to the axis of said cylindrical body portion, the other of said shells having a flange extending outwardly from said cylindrical body portion, said axially inclined flange being adapted to snap over the last named flange to connect the shells together, each of said shells being bulged outwardly between their opposite ends to form vacuum chambers around the pipes inserted therein.I

3. A union pipe-coupling comprising a pair of tubular shells of rubber or the like, each shell having an inturned annular ange at one end thereof and a cylindrical body portion at its other end to grip a pipe inserted therein, one of said shells having a flange extending at an acute angle inwardly to the axis of said cylindrical body portion, the'other of said shells having a flange extending outwardly from said cylindrical body portion, said axially inclined flange being adapted to snap over the last named flange to connect shells together, each of said shells being bulged outwardly between their opposite ends to form vacuum chambers around the pipes inserted therein and being provided in their inner surfaces' with reinforcing ribs or beads to restore said chambers to normal shape upon removal of pressure therefrom.

4. A union pipe-coupling comprising a pair of tubular shells of rubber or the like, each shell having an inturned annular flange at one end said shells having a flange extending at an acute angle inwardly to the axis of said cylindrical body portion, the other of said shells having a flange extending outwardly from said cylindrical body portion, said axially inclined flange being adapted to snap over the last named flange to connect shells together, a frusto-conical metallic washer embedded in the outer flanged end of said other shell, and a metal collar surrounding said washer in contact with its inclined face, said inclined flange being adapted to snap over said collar to force the latter into clamping contact with the inclined surface of said washer.

5. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular shell of rubber or the like having parts of its inner periphery of the same diameter and spaced apart to grip resiliently correspondingly spaced portions of a pipeof slightly larger diameter, said shell between said parts being bulged outwardly *to form a vacuum chamber and adapted to be compressed by applying to said pipe and Vto expand alter being applied thereto to increase the frictional contact of said parts with said pipe.

6. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular shell of rubber or the like having parts of its inner periphery of the same diameter and spaced apart to grip resiliently correspondingly spaced portions inner surface with means to restore said part to substantially normal shape after being compressed by.l applying to said pipe.

VALENTINE BEECHER. 

